Local

From left: Roberts, Sweeney, Aron, Kean and DeCroce

ATLANTIC CITY - NJN Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron has a panel on a stage here in one of the break-out-rooms of the Atlantic City Convention Center.

It's a familar group of legislative leaders, but in place of Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland) sits Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford).

The Sweeney for Codey swap for this public television show taping anticipates Monday's senate Democratic caucus vore when Sweeney figures to defeat Codey.

So it's Sweeney and outgoing Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden) versus Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield) and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Parsippany) on an Aron-anchored On the Record episode to air this coming Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

It's just starting.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Westfield), left, and Sen. Robert Gordon (D-Paramus).

ATLANTIC CITY - The legislative leadership transmogrifications are evident at the Atlantic City Convention Center, even if the good government intentions are nowhere visible outside whatever sessions convene behind closed doors.

A lot of people are talking about Senate President Richard Codey's party last night.

"An Irish wake," is how Sierra Club Executive Director Jeff Tittel describes the event.

More than a few people note that Codey appeared unflappable - even merry.

"Personable is not personal," explains another insider. "You have to understand the Irish. Whatever he's feeling inside, however personal he's taking this, will not take away from his ability to be personable."

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac

ATLANTIC CITY - The members of Christie's transition team will break into specified groups tomorrow, according to team facilitator and counsel Brian Nelson of Shrewsbury.

"We're going to have a smaller number of groups to examine the issues than Gov. Corzine had four years ago," Nelson told PolitickerNJ.com. 

Proving Gov. Jon Corzine's loss in his hometown doesn't diminish his standing with defeated Democratic governors, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac huddled in a tight-knit circle of party stalwarts that included former Gov. Jim Florio here in the Atlantic City Convention Center at the 94th annual League of Muncipalities Conference.

Corzine suffered a bellweather gut-wrencher in Woodbridge two weeks ago, ultimately going down to Gov.-elect Chris Christie, 11,475 to 9,391.

Christie surfaced in Woodbridge two days later and triumphantly pounded pavement with the Democratic mayor.

Then McCormac surfaced a few days after that as a member of Christie's transition team.

McCormac, state treasurer in the administration of Gov. Richard Codey, will have a transition role in economic development.

Trenton Councilman Manny Segura

ATLANTIC CITY - Trenton Councilman Manny Segura hasn't made a formal annoucement regarding next year's mayor's race, but if he runs and wins he says he would only serve for two terms - max.

"Longevity is a killer in this line of work," said the councilman, down here for the 94th annual League of Muncipalities Conference.

His observation comes on the tail-end of Mayor Doug Palmer's two-decade tour of duty as Trenton's chief executive.

"I've got three priorities," Segura added. "Safety, safety and safety."

A graduate of Perth Amboy High School, Segura was a minor league baseball prospect when he first started organizing politically, first for Robert Menendez and later Joe Vas.

Seems like everyone makes their money here, and then moves to Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

Some to avoid high property taxes and higher auto insurance rates.

Some ‘cause, I guess they have to.

Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), left, with Gov. Jon Corzine on the eve of Election Day in Lawrenceville.

Up against a politically and geographically connected frontrunner, Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) this week continues to call assembly people in the Democratic caucus in an effort to secure backing for the speakership, according to party sources.

A veteran legislator and former Democratic state party chair, Watson Coleman naturally headed a short-list of successors to retiring Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden).

But the Mercer County product's difficulty in a state controlled by powerful political fiefdoms is she hails from a county that is the Democratic Party equivalent of Somerset.

If the measure included time in the trenches and advocacy of progressive party causes, she looked tracked to become the Assembly's first African American woman speaker.

Former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell was indicted today on federal charges of taking $10,000 in bribes in exchange for help with development approvals.

Elwell, who resigned shortly after his July 23 arrest, allegedly promised to expedite development projects for Solomon Dwek – a government cooperating witness posing as a developer under an assumed name – in exchange for the money.

Also indicted was Ronald Manzo, brother of former Assemblyman and five-time Jersey City mayoral candidate Louis Manzo.  Ronald Manzo, who is charged with taking $5,000 to facilitate the relationship between Elwell and Dwek, was indicted last month along with his brother on separate corruption charges.

According to the indictment, Dwek gave Elwell – through Manzo -- $10,000 and promised another $10,000 after the June 2 primary.  

“Don’t treat me like an opponent. Don’t treat me like an enemy. Treat me like a friend and help me. Just support my stuff. Expedite my applications. That’s all,” the indictment quotes Dwek as telling Elwell at a Hoboken diner.   

Elwell, the indictment contends, “nodded his head affirmatively in response.”

Camden Mayor-elect Dana Redd has named Wendell E. Pritchett, chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden, and Susan Bass Levin, former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, as transition process co-chairs.

According to a release, the transition team will work to develop a number of initiatives, including public safety; health and family services; and a “Clean Camden” campaign that will seek to improve neighborhoods.

“I am pleased to announce the co-chairs of my transition team along with members of the working group,” said Redd. “Susan Bass Levin and Wendell Pritchett are two of the region's most respected leaders with proven track records in government, higher education, urban affairs, and public policy.  As Camden's next mayor, I look forward to implementing meaningful governmental reforms, improving service delivery for the residents and the small business community, and improving Camden’s standing in the region.”     

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, left, and Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford)

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo plans to formally kick-off his bid for a third term on Dec. 11th.

Over the past few days in particular, sources say the county executive has made the rounds and confirmed considerable support toward his re-election.

Although no one has emerged as a serious challenger to the popular county exec, there are hold-outs, notably Senate President Richard Codey (D-Roseland), East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser, and state Sen. Ronald L. Rice (D-Newark), who all believed DiVincenzo helped engineer Codey's collapse from his power projection platform as head of the state senate.

In his defense, DiVincenzo maintained that Codey was clearly wounded following the caucus reorganization vote after the 2007 elections.

When Sen. Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) defeated the Codey-backed Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) for senate majority leader, DiVincenzo said he read that as a sign that the Essex County -based Codey couldn't summon the votes to suppress Sweeney's upward mobility.

Former Hoboken chief financial officer Michael Lenz by a 4-3-1 vote last night assumed the oath of office to succeed Mayor Dawn Zimmer as the 4th Ward councilmember, according to Hoboken Now.

Lenz served as Zimmer's main political strategist and adviser during the several cycles in which Zimmer pursued public office, including her successful 2007 4th Ward council race and her 2009 mayoral runs.

Zimmer held onto her council seat while serving as acting mayor after the meltdown of Peter Cammarano and until the Nov. 3rd special election for mayor, which she won decisively.

Her allies, Councilman Ravi Bhalla, Councilwoman Carol Marsh, Councilman David Mello and Councilman Peter Cunningham voted in favor of Lenz last night. Councilman Nino Giacchi, Councilwoman Terry Castellano, and Councilman Michael Russo voted against him.